Proponents of the bill argue its necessary to keep the federal government competitive in hiring as the cost of childcare can be burdensome and many companies in the private sector currently offer more extensive benefits.

“Currently, employees in the federal government are required to take unpaid parental leave, often exhausting the vacation and sick leave they have to get the time they need for their newborns or newly adopted children," Hoyer told reporters.

"It's a win-win situation and it's also one of the policies the president spoke of in his State of the Union - he spoke of paid family leave," she told reporters. "So let's help him keep at least one promise and pass this bill."